Freight drivers across New South Wales are bracing for a host of strikes across GrainCorp sites following a breakdown in pay negotiations between GrainCorp and the Australian Workers’ Union on Friday, October 25.
Grain handlers will commence in a series of one-hour stoppages across the company’s sites in NSW as part of a protected industrial action, with the stoppages to commence throughout the state from Tuesday, October 29.
The strike will directly hit heavy vehicle operators, with extensive delays for the loading and unloading of grain projected during the crucial lead-in to the industry’s busiest time of the year.
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Winter harvesting in the region has already begun, and it is only expected to ramp up in the coming days and weeks.
The striking grain handlers move and store wheat, canola, barley, oats, and other grains.
The AWU says grain handlers received an annual pay increase of two per cent in 2021, 2022 and 2023 while inflation rose 2.86 per cent, 6.59 per cent and 4.1 per cent, with the union contesting real wages have declined 7.5 per cent in that time.
The union also says GrainCorp offered annual pay increases of six per cent, five per cent and three per cent plus a $1000 sign on bonus for handlers, while the AWU is contesting for increases of six per cent, five per cent and four per cent plus a $1000 sign on bonus.
The one per cent difference equates to 30 cents an hour, which Australian Workers’ Union NSW Secretary has compared to the equivalent of “a minor rounding error on GrainCorp’s balance sheet”.
Callinan says the strike will cause grain silo delays across the state.
“There are going to be trucks lined up at grain bunker silos all over western NSW [on] Tuesday.” Callinan says.
“Our members work hard to deliver GrainCorp bumper profits, they are fed up with low wage increases.
“One off payments and annual bonuses art GrainCorp’s discretion are not going to cut it this time around.”
GrainCorp has said it expects to 12,000 trucks per day to pass through its recieval sites up and down Australia’s entire east coast at peak harvest season, with 300,000 trucks set to tip at its sites which stretch from central Queensland to southern Victoria and into South Australia.
GrainCorp Head of Corporate Affairs Jess Simons said prior to Friday’s meeting that the company values its employees, and she hoped an agreement could soon be reached.
“GrainCorp respects the rights of union members to take protected industrial action, but we are focused on reaching an agreement for our employees,” she said.
“The work they do is valued and it is a critical agreement.
“As well as reaching a resolution our key focus is to minimise the impact of any industrial action on growers, who are our key customers.
“Our teams are working to understand the level of impact any protected industrial action may have, and ensuring harvest activity can continue at our sites.”
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